Box-stringing machine



Aug. 12, 1930. R H. M. RHODA 1,773,009

BOX STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. H. M. RI-"I ODA 30X STRINGING MACHINE Aug. 12, 1930.

Filed Aug. 17, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll HH Aug. 12, 1930. Hf RHQDA 1,773,009

BOX STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s g virnqya,

Patented Aug. 12, 193% &

PATENT @Fidifi RALPH E. M. BHODA, F ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA BOX-STRIIIGING MACHINE Application filed August 17, 1929. Serial No. 386,833.

This invention relates to stringing means for cardboard boxes such as those used for shipping undergarments, shirts, hosiery, and the like, in which strings are employed for holding the contents of the box in position.

An important object of the invention is to produce, in an apparatus of this character, a structure such that boxes of different sizes can be equipped with strings and the operation may be very rapidly carried forward, thus materially reducing the cost of production of the boxes.

A still further object of the invention is to produce for use in apparatus of this character a novel and improved stringing needle, and mountings therefor, permitting substantially universal adjustment thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of this character an arrangement whereby the boX may be readily ejected from the machine when the stringing operation has been completed and in which the arrangement is such that the operation of ejecting the box causes the strings to be shifted to their final position.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

1 is a side elevation of a box-stringing machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the needle employed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a box strung by use of the machine illustrated, and

6 is a perspective view of the support ing plate of the box elevating arms.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a bed or table supported in spaced relation to the floor by standards 11. This table has formed therein an opening 12, the margins of which I define by an upstanding rim or flange 13, This flange is internally provided with vertically-extending guides 14 preferably each consisting of a pair of angle irons havin in- The head 16 is in the form of an open frame I the side walls of which are connected by a pivot pin 17 upon which is pivotally mounted an extensible link 18. At opposite ends of this head mounting brackets 19 are disposed, each comprising a plate 20 having its upper surface coplanar with the upper edges of the sides of the head and having its end edges clown-turned flanges 21 which are secured to the inner faces of the head wall. The side edges of this head have upstanding therefrom transversely directed flanges 22 and upon the upper surface of the plate 20 between the flanges 22 thereof are mounted a pair of arms 23. Each plate has a slot 2% formed therein for each arm and a securing element 25 projects through the arm at a selected one of a series of openings 26 to secure the arm in adjusted positions and thus to determine the distance between opposite ends of the arms. Corresponding arms of each pair have secured thereto bars 27.

The flange 13 about opening 12 is preferably in the form of a rectangular frame, the walls of which adjacent the lower ends there of have secured thereto the intermediate or connecting portion 28 of a Z-shapcd bracket, one angle element 29 of which is secured to the upper surface of the table and t e other angle element 30 of which projects beneath the lower edge of the side walls of the head to form a stop limiting downward movement of this head.

Secured upon the table and extending transversely thereof at each end of the flange 13, are guides 31. Guides at corresponding sides of the flange 13 slideably receive yokes 32 carried by opposite ends of a needle bar or carriage 33 mounting one or more needles 3-4, two being shown in the present instance. Yokes 32 are adapted for clamping in an adjusted position, as for example by means of set screws 35. Each needle 34: includes a standard 36, the lower end of which is in the form of a. yoke slideably embracing its sociated needle bar and equipped with a clamping means as indicated at 87. The needle proper is in the form of a flat bar 38 detachably secured to the standard and having at its upper end a hook the back and face edges of which are sharpened as indicated at 40. The bight of the hook is rounded and grooved to enable it to readily receive a tape as indicated at 11.

Rearwardly of the mechanism just described, the upper surface of the table is provided with a pair of brackets 42 supporting a pivot shaft 43 upon which is pivoted the rearwardly extended arms 44 of an open pusher frame 45. Clamped to this frame by means of clamps indicated at 46 are transversely-extending pusher arms 47 each having a longitudinally-extending slot 48. One of the arms of the frame is provided with an angular rearward extension 49 and to the table as at 50 the forward end of a. lever 51 is pivoted. This lever is connected with the extension 49 through a link 52. The rear end of lever 51 is equipped with an adjustable counter-weight 53 which serves to counter-balance the weight of the frame and its associated solid arms and to normally maintain this frame in an elevated position. Adjustment of the weight enables the balance to be properly maintained so that minimum effort is necessary in varied positions of the parts to shift the pusher frame to its operative position, and at the same time a prompt retnrnof the mechanism to the normal position after an operation can be had. An adjustable stop 54 carried by the table limits downward movement of the lever 51 and accordingly the extent to which frame 45 is elevated.

Associated with the table are a pair of pivoted treadle levers 55 and 56 each equipped with an adjustable stop 57 to limit downward movement thereof. The forward end of each lever has a treadle piece and the rear end of lever 55 is connected through an adjustable link 58 with the lever 51 at a point adjacent the pivot thereof. The supports for treadle lever 56 include brackets 59 mounting a pivot 60 directed through a slot 61 formed in a lever 62. The rear end of lever 62 is pivoted to the rear end of treadle 56 and the forward end thereof is connected through the link 63 to the rear end of a second lever 64 pivotally supported upon brackets 65 depending from the table. The forward end of lever (i l is connected to the lower end of adjustable link 18 of the head and a counter-weight 66 is preferably operatively connected to the rear end of this lever to assist in balancing the weight of the head and of the associated mechanism.

In use of the apparatus the box to which the strings are to be applied is placed mouth downwardly upon the needles 3% from which it is at this time supported. These needles have. of course, been previously adjusted so .the box wh that they will engage against the bottom of the box immediately adjacent the side walls thereof and at desired spaced intervals. Adjustment of the needles where the box is short may be effected by setting these needles from the ends of bars 2? which constitute a gauge for use with short boxes With longer boxes such as illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 1, an auxiliary gauge 70 is employed. This gauge includes a supporting guide 71 secured to the table in advance of the table opening. Upon a horizontally-extending longitudinally-directed portion of this guide a yoke 72 is adjustably mounted, this yoke having a standard 73 upon which the guide proper, indicated at M, is secured. In placing the b0): upon the needles when using this guide the front end of the box, or that end which is nearest the operator, is placed against the front face of the guide. Treadle lever 55 is then actuated and applies an upward thrust upon lever 51 thus causing the frame l5 and its slotted arms to swing downwardly and engage the box. The arms 47 have been previously adjusted so that their slots 48 align with the needles and the pressure applied by this frame upon the base of the box will force the box downwardly so that the needles penetrate the bottom thereof and project upwardly through the bottom of the box. Bars 27 of the heads serve to positively limit the downward movement of nroper penetration of the needles has been effected. The sharpened upper ends of the needle bars readily penetrate the box bottom to provide openings 1' or the passage of the tapes while the grooves in the sides of the hook provide openings in which the tapes may follow he needle without being seriously cramped against the material of the box. Treadle lever 55 is then released permitting the frame to return to its normal position through the counterweight and strings are engaged with the needles by threading them into the hooks. Treadle 56 is then actuated thus giving an upward thrust to the head 16 lifting the box by engaging the bottom thereof. The needles engaging the tapes or strings which are being applied to the box pull these strings through the slots which were formed when the needles penetrated the same so that the strings are placed as generally indicated in Fig. 5. Strings may be placed in this fashion wherever four or more strings are to be applied to the box. lVhere only 2 strings are to be applied to the box the string is placed transversely. The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5 is, however, preferred as the box covering will. cover the st-*ings when placed in this fashion and prevent-any accidental displacement thereof.

it will be understood that while two needles have been illustrated supported by each bar or needle carriage 33, any desired number of needles may be applied to this bar. Because of the various adjustments provided the machine is equipped for work upon a wide variety of box constructions. Since the construction is obviously capable of a considerable range and change of modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a box-stringing machine, a plurality of needles adapted to receive and support a box, means for forcing the box downwardly upon the needles to cause passage of the needles therethrough and means for forcing the box upwardly to withdraw it from the needles.

2. In a box-stringing machine, a plurality of needles adapted to receive and support a box, means for forcing the box downwardly upon the needles to cause passage of the needles therethrough and means for forcing the box upwardly to withdraw it from the needles including a part limiting downward movement of the box under influence of the first-named means.

3. In a box-stringing machine, a pair of parallel needle carriages adjustable toward and away from one another, a needle carried by each carriage, means apertured for the passage of the needles for engaging a box supported by the needles to force it downwardly upon the needles and means for forcing the box upwardly to remove it from the needles.

4. In a box-stringing machine, a pair of parallel needle carriages adjustable toward and away from one another, a needle carried byeach carriage, means apertured for the passage of the needles for engaging a box supported by the needles to force it downwardly upon the needles and means for forcing the box upwardly to remove it from the needles including a part limiting downward movement of the box under influence of the first-named means.

5. In a box-stringing machine, a table, a head guided for vertical movement therethrough, parallel needle carriages at opposite sides of the head and adjustable toward and away from one another, a needle carried by each carriage, means apertured for the passage of the needles for engaging a box supported by the needles to force it clownwardly upon the needles and into engagement with said head, and means for shifting the head upwardly to disengage the box from the needles.

6. In a boxstringing machine, a plurality of needles each having an uncinate end for engagement with a string, said needles adapted to receive and support a. box, means for forcing the box upon the needles to cause passage of the needles therethrough to an extent exposing the uncinate ends thereof and means for shifting the box to withdraw it from the needles.

7 In a box-stringing machine, a plurality of needles each having an uncinate end for engagement with a string, said needles adapted to receive and support a box, means for forcing the box downwardly upon the needles to cause passage of the needles therethrough to an extent exposing the uncinate ends thereof and means for shifting the box to withdraw it from the needles, including a part limiting movement of the box under influence of the first-named means.

8. In a box-stringing machine, a table, a head guided for vertical movement therethrough, parallel needle carriages at opposite sides of the head and adjustable toward and away from one another, a plurality of needles carried by said carriages and adjust able longitudinally thereof, a frame pivoted to the table and swingable downwardly toward the needle carriages, adjustable elements upon said frame apertured for the passage of said needles and means for shifting said frame about the pivot thereof to engage a box supported by the needles and force it downwardly thereon toward the head.

9. In a box-stringing machine, a table, a head guided for vertical movement therethrough. parallel needle carriages at opposite sides of the head and adjustable toward and away from one another, a plurality of needles carried by said car "iages and adjustable longitudinally thereof, a frame pivoted to the table and swingable downwardly toward the needle carriages, adjustable elements upon said frame apertured for the passage of said needles, means for shifting said frame about the pivot thereof to engage a box supported by the needles and force it downwardly thereon toward the head, and means for shifting the head to raise and lower the same, said head when in raised position supporting a box above the upper ends of the needles and when in lowered position supporting and limiting downward movement of the box under influence of said frame.

10. In a box-stringing machine, a plurality of needles each having an uncinate end;

for engagement with a string, said needles adapted to receive and support a box, means for forcing the box upon the needles to cause passage of the needles therethrough to an extent exposing the uncinate ends thereof and means for shifting the box to withdraw it from the needles and operating means for the first-named means including a part normally maintaining the first-named means in a position above the needles.

11. In a box-stringing machine, a plurality of needles having sharpened ends formed to provide hooks, means for forcing a box thereagainst to cause the needles to perforate the box and expose said hooks and means for oppositely shifting the box to disengage it from the needles.

12. In a box-stringing machine, a plural ity of needles having sharpened ends formed to provide hooks, means for forcing a box thereagainst to cause the needles to perforate the box and expose said hooks and means for oppositely shifting the box to disengage it from the needles, the last-named means including a part limiting movement of the box under influence of the first-named means.

RALPH H. M. RHODA. 

